Woo your Valentine at breast cancer fundraiser

by Mary O’Connor Galway Advertiser, Thu, Jan 15, 2009

John Ryan of The Ardilaun hotel, tries to tempt Anna O Coinne, chairperson The National Breast Cancer Research Institute (NBCRI), at the launch of the charity’s Valentine's Ball which takes place at the Ardilaun on Saturday February 14.
Photo: Martina Regan

Dance the night away with your loved one on St Valentine’s night at the National Breast Cancer Research Institute’s annual ball at The Ardilaun and help fund breast cancer research.

That is the appeal from the 18-year-old charity which is based at the Clinical Science Institute at NUI Galway.

The gala evening, which marks the start of Galway’s social calendar, is one of the charity’s major fundraising events. The money raised supports the breast cancer research carried out by Professor Michael Kerin and his team at NUI Galway.

Tickets cost €150 and can be bought directly from the NBCRI. Telephone (091 ) 524390 or email [email protected] Special accommodation packages are also available from The Ardilaun. Telephone (091 ) 519773 for further information.

The National Breast Cancer Research Institute is a leader in breast cancer research. The charity combines ethical research into the biology of breast cancer with raising awareness of the disease.

The institute is continuously fundraising to help improve breast cancer services for women with the aim of fast-forwarding breast screening throughout Ireland. Its current research focuses on detecting and isolating biological markers which can indicate the presence of breast cancer and determine the prognosis of a patient.

The NBCRI says while there are many organisations nationwide fundraising for breast cancer awareness the Galway based organisation’s role is unique. Its research can help to ascertain the causes and factors that influence breast cancer and therefore help to develop effective screening, treatments and medication to combat it, it says.

Irish women have a one in 12 chance of developing breast cancer in their lifetime. The risk of developing the condition increases with age. About 80 per cent of breast cancers occur in women over 50 years. Some 74 per cent of Irish women with breast cancer discovered the lump themselves. Around 14 men develop breast cancer in Ireland each year. Early diagnosis is a key to surviving the illness. More than 2,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in Ireland each year.